Jul. 26, 2013

Bell's Oberon won't be available at the beer festival this weekend.

Written by

Associated Press

A well-known Michigan brewer has changed its mind about pulling out of a major beer festival because of planned political fund-raising at the event.

Bell’s Brewery Inc. said on its official Facebook page that it would honor its commitment to attend this weekend’s 16th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti. Earlier, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported that the brewer wasn’t going to attend after the founder and president Larry Bell learned about the Protect Michigan Craft Beer Political Action Committe’s plans.

“I don't want to be part of it,” Bell said this week. “I find it distasteful that they are bringing politics into the fest. I have no idea where that money will go. I don’t want to be part of trying to raise political money from drunk or slightly intoxicated people.”

But on the Facebook page, the brewery said:

“We appreciate all of the feedback we've received from our fans, both in support of our stance and in disagreement. We have been in talks with the Guild over the last 24 hours and have mutually decided that it would be best for us to honor our commitment to attend the festival. A conference call between both parties will be held next week to continue dialogue on how to proceed as partners in the great Michigan beer industry.”

Protect Michigan Craft Beer is an independent political action committee formed two years ago by Brett VanderKamp, of New Holland Brewing Co., and Tim Suprise, of Arcadia Brewing Co. Suprise said brewers in the state including Bell’s will benefit from the PAC.

“The committee intends to raise resources for advocacy so we can have a voice and a seat at the table. I think it’s a fairly well-understood part of our state regulatory environment and on the federal level,” said Suprise, whose brewery is located in Battle Creek.

Scott Newman-Bale, treasurer of the Michigan Beer Guild and chief financial officer of Short’s Brewing Co., said the PAC attended the event last year and Bell received a refund after voicing concerns. The missions of the guild and the PAC are similar but separate, he said.

“The guild’s mission is to introduce people to Michigan beer and the PAC is on that direction on the legislative side,” Newman-Bale said.